Eric Abetz (Tasmania, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

asked the Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy, upon notice, on 14 March 2012:

With reference erence to Messenger Post Couriers:

(1) What provision is there in the standard Messenger Post contract for variations due to increased fuel prices.

(2) How does Australia Post determine the labour rate paid to Messenger Post contractors.

Stephen Conroy (Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Deputy Leader of the Government in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The answer to the honourable senator's question is as follows:

(1) The standard Messenger Post Couriers contract does not provide for a variation in the contract fee due to changes in fuel prices. The contract fee may be increased at Australia Post's discretion in response to a contractor's request, e.g. in response to changes in operating costs.

(2) Messenger Post contractors are paid consistent with market rates. They are not paid a labour fee. Contractors are paid a fee to provide services that involve the transport of articles across metropolitan regions. The fee paid to contractors is an agreed fee to cover all costs associated with the transport of such articles. This typically includes all such expenses a small business may incur, including: fuel, maintenance, labour, insurances, etc.